Page 4031 - Week 09 - Thursday, 26 August 2010
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In 2008, our emissions were 4.18 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions. The ACT’s emissions are dominated by the burning of fossil fuels for electricity. Electricity represents 62 per cent, transport 23 per cent and natural gas nine per cent of our total emissions. Due to our extreme temperatures in winter and summer, heating and cooling are a significant contributor to our emissions profile. Therefore, the government recognises that effective climate change policy needs to be applied across a range of sectors and needs to engage individuals, businesses and the government.
The proposed legislation seeks to achieve the following things. Firstly, it sets targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase renewable energy use and generation. Secondly, it installs regular reporting to the Legislative Assembly on the ACT’s progress on greenhouse gas emissions reduction. Thirdly, it establishes a Climate Change Council to provide independent advice on climate change issues as they affect business and the wider community. Fourthly, it encourages private entities to take action through voluntary sector agreements with government.
The legislation also sets an average per person greenhouse gas emissions target to peak by 2013 which confirms that the immediate challenge for the ACT is to halt the growth in per capita and total greenhouse gas emissions as soon as possible.
A key mechanism to ensure effective legislation and community engagement will be the adequate and timely reporting of the ACT’s progress in reducing its greenhouse gas emissions, including against the legislated targets.
The bill requires the minister to request an independent entity, the Independent Competition and Regulatory Commission, to prepare an annual report on the amount of greenhouse gas emissions in the ACT for each financial year following commencement of the bill, an analysis of the ACT’s progress in meeting targets, including a comparison of the annual emissions amount with the interim and final targets, identification of the main sources of greenhouse gas emissions in the ACT, and identification of possible reasons for changes in greenhouse gas emissions from previous years.
The bill also clearly sets out a number of functions to be performed by the minister that will promote action on climate change. For each financial year the minister will report to the Legislative Assembly on actions taken.
Working with the community and business sector is paramount. To this end, through this bill, a Climate Change Council will be established to advise the minister on reducing greenhouse gas emissions and adapting to climate change.
The Climate Change Council will consist of at least five and up to nine members appointed by the minister, drawing expertise and representation from climate change science, environment and conservation, the built environment, including urban development, transport and infrastructure, the community sector, the business sector, the government sector and other expertise as required.
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